Smyth County social services asks board for help as Santa's Elves donations fall after storms

Dale Baldwin, representing the Smyth County Department of Social Services, told the Board of Supervisors that the county's long-running Santa's Elves holiday program has seen a notable drop in donations after recent storms and shifting donor priorities. Baldwin said the program, which DSS has overseen since 1972, matches verified needs to donated gifts and funds and works with churches and other organizations to avoid duplicating assistance.

Baldwin provided program figures and a snapshot of need. "We had 718 children last year," she said, adding that 290 of those children required purchases funded by Santa's Elves. Baldwin said the county currently has about 46 children in foster care and that staff are planning for roughly 50. On the program's budget she said, "$29,000 is ideal. However, we would need anywhere most likely $15,000 just to keep afloat." Baldwin described several ways residents can help, including monetary donations, gift cards, child sponsorships, drop-off or direct delivery on distribution day, and volunteering for shopping or phone-taking duties.

Board members and attendees asked about coordination and logistics. Baldwin said DSS verifies referrals and works with churches that route requests through the department so staff can confirm custody and true need before items are delivered. She gave the program's typical timeline: shopping generally begins in November, referrals typically run through November with a cutoff on Dec. 3, and distribution generally occurs the week before Christmas, though exact dates were not yet finalized.

Members suggested practical next steps: DSS will confirm the precise shortfall and may return with a request to the board; Speaker 8 invited DSS to give a status update at the November board meeting. Baldwin also said the program is pursuing 501(c)(3) status through an attorney in Whittville to expand grant eligibility and formalize governance, and she announced local fundraisers, including a county dodgeball tournament on Oct. 17.

The board did not take a formal appropriation at the meeting. Several members signaled willingness to consider a narrow, one-time allocation if DSS returns with verified figures; a voice vote earlier in the meeting approved the previous meeting's minutes but no financial votes were recorded on this agenda item.

The board asked DSS to follow up with a brief written status and to appear at or before the November meeting if a funding request is needed.